As many as 30 cats have gone missing from a small city in central Indiana in recent months, and animal advocates fear the felines were brutally killed.

It is believed the cats in Martinsville, Ind., experienced “abuse” that was captured on video on a suspect’s phone, the Morgan County Humane Society told Examiner.com in a Facebook message July 14. But the Martinsville Police Department has “not had anyone swear to seeing the video,” the humane society added. “As soon as that sworn statement is received, they can subpoena the phone for evidence.”

Alley Cat Allies, a national advocacy group based in Bethesda, Md., is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the “deaths and disappearances” of the cats. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262–TIPS (8477).

There were conflicting reports about some details of the case. For instance, while local news media indicated that dead cats were discovered in a neighborhood near Home Avenue and South Street, the humane society insisted that no bodies were found. Police in Martinsville, which is about a half-hour southwest of Indianapolis, could not be reached for comment.

Another major cruelty case remains under investigation in northern Indiana. South Bend officials said in April that 21 dead animals, mostly cats, were found piled in an alley. An examination of the victims determined that many had been shot with a projectile, such as a BB or pellet.

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Marc Selinger is a freelance writer in the Washington, D.C., area. In his spare time, he is president/founder of Rock Creek Cats, a volunteer nonprofit that helps stray and feral cats. Follow his cat writings on Facebook (dccatwriter) and Twitter (@dccatwriter). He can be reached at marc2255@yahoo.com.